Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
NATIONAL OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment implements two National Overseas Scholarship  schemes. One is implemented by the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment for students from Scheduled Castes, Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, Landless Agricultural Labourers and Traditional Artisans category for pursuing Master’s degree or Ph. D courses abroad. The other is implemented by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities  to provide financial assistance to students with benchmark disabilities for pursuing Master’s level courses and Ph. D abroad in the following specified fields of study:  Engineering & Management  Pure Sciences and Applied Sciences  Agricultural Science & Medicine  Commerce, Accounting and Finance and  Humanities, Social Science including Law& Fine Arts. The eligibility criteria of both the Departments is tabulated as outlined below:-
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Criteria
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DoSJE
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DoEPwD
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Minimum Qualification
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For Ph.D.: At least 60%  marks or equivalent grade in relevant Master’s Degree.
For Masters’ Degree: At least 60%  marks or equivalent grade in relevant Master’s Degree
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For Ph.D.: First class or 55%  marks or equivalent grade in relevant Master’s Degree.
For Masters’ Degree: 55%  marks or equivalent grade in relevant Bachelor’s Degree.
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Age
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Age not more than 35 years as on first day of April for Selection Year.
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Below 35  years as on Ist January of the year of application.
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Income
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Total family income from all sources shall not exceed Rs. 8.00 lakh per annum.
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Parents/Guardian’s income: Should not be more than Rs.8.0 lakh per annum.
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Institute
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Priority is given to candidates having unconditional offer of admission to top 500 ranked foreign Institutes/Universities as per the latest available QS rankings.
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The benefits provided to the beneficiaries of this scheme are attached at Annexure-I.
Currently, 125 and 20 scholarships are awarded every year by DoSJE and DoEPwD under their respective schemes.
The funds disbursed under the two schemes since Financial Year 2018-19 till date is tabulated as below:

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Year
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DoSJE
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DoEPwD
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Funds Disbursed
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Funds Disbursed
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2018-19
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5.97
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1.08
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2019-20
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28.56
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1.02
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2020-21
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32.92
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1.23
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2021-22
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49.07
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2.39
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2022-23

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75.44
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2.95
Annexure-I
 Benefits provided to the beneficiaries by DoSJE are given as below:-
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S.
No.
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Type of Assistance
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United States of America  & other countries except UK
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United Kingdom 
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1.
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Annual Maintenance Allowance
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15400 US Dollars
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9900 Great Britain Pounds
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2.
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Contingency Allowance
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1500 US Dollars
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1100 Great Britain Pounds
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3.
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Tuition Fees
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Actual as charged
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4.
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Visa Fees
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Actual visa fees in Indian Rupees
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5.
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Medical Insurance Premium
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Actual as charged
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6.
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Incidental Journey
Allowance &Equipment Allowance
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20 US Dollars for each or its equivalent in Indian Rupees
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7.
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Air Passage
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a) The awardees shall be allowed to purchase air tickets  from the three authorized travel agents viz. Balmer Lawrie & Company Limited , Ashok Travels & Tours , Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd  with the condition that the ticket purchased must be of economy class/shortest route on date of booking.
b) The choice of the travel agent for booking of the ticket is left open to the awardees. No Booking charges/excess baggage/cancellation charges & other add-ons will be reimbursed to awardees.
c) The awardees will claim reimbursement of airfare from respective Indian Mission abroad after joining the University and providing joining report from University.
d) The conditions will be effective from 1st Jan , 2022.
e) Return tickets will be booked by Indian Mission abroad as per clause 11.
 Benefits provided to the beneficiaries by DoEPwD are as below:-
 Tuition fees: Tuition fees of foreign universities/colleges as per actual.
 Maintenance Allowance: US$15,400/- per annum for United States of America and other countries except United Kingdom where it is GBP 9,900/- per annum.
 Contingency Allowance: US$1500/- per annum for United States of America and other countries except United Kingdom where it is GBP 1100/- per annum.
 Incidental journey allowance: US$20/-
 Equipment Allowance: US$20/-
 Visa Fees: As per actual.
Medical Insurance Premium: As per actual.
 Cost of air passage: For onward journey to abroad, actual cost is reimbursed. Return ticket is arranged by Indian embassy concerned.
This information was given by Minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment Sushri Pratima Bhoumik in the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today.